Benidorm Police's 'Vice' Operation: Four Venues Closed, Seven Arrested

Benidorm's Local Police have intensified their inspection efforts in the past month, targeting the numerous leisure venues in the Costa Blanca's tourist capital. As a result, four establishments have been shut down, and seven individuals, all of British, Moroccan, and Pakistani nationality, have been arrested.

This 'vice' operation conducted by the Benidorm police officers occurred "at night while the public was enjoying various parties," according to the Local Police spokesperson, Quique Tortosa.

These raids "have resulted in the search of up to six bars and pubs, four of which have been temporarily closed due to clear evidence of crimes against public health," specifically activities related to drug trafficking and consumption. All the now-closed venues are located in the city's famous 'tourist zone', the Rincón de Loix area, which caters almost exclusively to British tourists.

"In total," the police spokesperson told TodoAlicante, "200 grams of cocaine, 300 LSD and MDMA pills, 200 portions of marijuana, 20 of hashish, 8 bottles of nitrous oxide, as well as mobile phones and 3,000 euros in cash have been seized."

In this regard, Tortosa emphasized that "the traffickers' method was to hide the drug doses in various places within the establishments, such as behind fire extinguishers, in light register boxes, in toilet paper roll holders, or sofa covers." Overall, the police officer added, "the total value of all the seized items could reach up to 30,000 euros on the black market."